Granny Hamner
Granville Wilbur "Granny" Hamner was an American professional baseball shortstop and second baseman in Major League Baseball. Hamner was one of the key players on the "Whiz Kids", the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Hamner was born in Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Benedictine High School. His brother Garvin was also an infielder in the big leagues. "Granny" spent years with the Phillies, having come to the club as a 17-year-old during World War II and becoming one of the team leaders of the 1950 NL champions at the age of 23. A right-handed hitting shortstop with moderate power, Hamner compiled more than 80 runs batted in four times.
In the 1950 World Series, a four-game New York Yankees sweep dominated by Yankee pitchers, Hamner batted.429 with three extra-base hits. In March 1952, manager Eddie Sawyer named Hamner team captain of the Phillies.
An All-Star three years in a row, Hamner was the National League's starting shortstop in the 1952 All-Star Game, played on his home field, Shibe Park, in Philadelphia. The game was called off after five innings due to rain.
On May 16,, Hamner was traded to the Cleveland Indians, but he batted only.164 for the remainder of the campaign. Hamner then became a Kansas City Athletics’ Minor League Baseball manager, reappearing briefly with the A's as a pitcher during the 1962 season.. But the change did not prolong Hamner's playing career. He briefly managed in the Phils' farm system in the 1970s and 1980s.
In 17 major league seasons, Hamner compiled a.262 batting average with 104 home runs. As a pitcher, he was winless with two losses, with an earned run average of 5.40, in seven games, and innings pitched.
In 1980, Hamner was one of several drivers who were able to stop their vehicles on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida before reaching the gap in the roadway caused by the collapse of a span after the freighter MV Summit Venture collided with the bridge.
In 1981, Hamner was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
On September 12, 1993, Hamner died of a heart attack at age 66 in Philadelphia.
